Endless-belt ore-concentrator



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. O. SPRINGER.

ENDLESS BELT ORE GONGENTRATOR.

N0. 589,627. Patented Sept. 7, 1897.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2. A O SPRINGER ENDLESS BELT ORE GONGENTRATOR.

No 589,627. Patented Sept. '7, 1897.

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UNITED STATES AMOS C. SPRINGER, OF SAN FRANCISCO,CALIFORNIA.

ENDLESS-BELT ORE-CONCENTRATOR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent 0. 589,627, dated September '7, 1897'.

Application filed October 21, 1896. Serial No. 609,544. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, AMOS O. SPRINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Endless-Belt Ore-Concentrators; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to that class of oreconcentrators in which the pulp and water are supplied to the surface of an endless traveling belt, said belt being mounted at an incline and having what is termed an .uphill travel, whereby the heavier particles clinging to the surface of the belt are carried up over its head and are washed off below, while the lighter and worthless particles,with the water, pass off down thebelt and over its foot. This class of, concentrators is usually termed endless-belt concentrators.

My invention consists of the parts and the constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my concentrator. Fig. 2 is a detail showing the construction and mounting of the supporting-standards E and the adjustment of the same as applied to the standards at the foot of the Fig. 3 is a section showing the end piece 3 as applied to the belt-guiding rollers S. Fig. a is a perspective view of one of the belt-flanges, showing its application to the belt, said flange being shown as ripped up for a short distance to better illustrate its independence. Fig. 5 is aviewof the distributer. Fig. 6 is a top view of one of the chutes in the distributor.

A is the stationary bed-frame of the ma- .0 chine.

B is the shaking frame, having the usual terminal drums C and O at its head and foot, respectively, and the intervening supportin grollers 0 5 D is the endless traveling belt.

1 The shaking frame B is supported upon the standards E, there being four of these at approximately the four corners of the machine. These standards are bars of suitable strength 0 to insure rigidity, as it is my intention to avoid any springiness or yielding in said bars, as my shaking movement is not dependent upon spririg-standards, which is the common practice in this class of machines. These bars support the frame and are themselves supported as follows: The upper ends of the bars have fitted and secured to them castings e, the head of each of which is made half-round or convex and fits within a corresponding concavcd recess or socket in the under side of a bearing-casting 12, secured to the shaking frame B. The lower end of each of the bars'E has fitted to it a casting c, the end of which is half-round or convex and rests freely in a correspondinglyc'oncaved recess or socket in a bearing-casting a, se-

cured t0 the bed-frame A. Thus thereis a free rocking hearing at both ends of the supporting-standards, and these hearings permit the free, enile, and uniform movementhere shown it as of the character usually,

termed an end shake, which is accomplished by means of a suit-able eccentric upon the main driving-shaft F and from which eccentric a connecting-rod ,7 extends to the frame. This manner of supporting the shaking frame renders it possible to fit the connections by simply inserting the standards into their seats, and the shaking frame is merely supported by said standards and may be readily lifted off. The shaking movement is not subjected to the sudden springy action of yielding standards, as in the ordinar F constructions, which tend to make said movement more or less jerky, but in my machine the movement, as I have before stated, is an easy uniform one, unaffected by the standards.

In order to adjust the inclination of the frame 13 and of the belt which it carries, I provide that one pair of the supporting-standards E shall be vertically adjustable. Accordingly it will be seen that the bearingcastiugs a of the supporting-standards at the foot of the machine are mounted and adapted to slide vertically in guides a, secured on the inner sides of the base-frame A. Journaled in the frame A is a cross-shaft a having upon it pinions a, which engage with racks c of the bearings a. Upon one extremity of the shaft is a wrench-hold or other handle a by which the shaft may be turned and through the pinions and rack may vertically adjust the bearings a, thus lifting or lowering the supporting-standards E at the foot of the machine and varying the inclination of the frame 13. Upon the shaft is also a ratchet-wh eel a, with which engages a pawl a whereby the shaft is held in the position to which it is moved in adjusting the standards. This ad justmcnt of the inclination of the frame B and of the belt which it carries may be effected by these means even while the machine is in operation.

The means for effecting the travel of the belt are as follows: Secured upon the frame B at one side of its head portion is a bracket G, which carries a shaft g, having on one end a worm g, which meshes with a worm-gear c on the head-dru m C of the shaking frame. Upon this shaft g is carried a series of pulleys H. of different diameters. Upon the main shaft F is a series of pulleys I of varying diameters. Between these two series of pulleys extends an endless belt J, which passes around suitable guide and tightener pulleys K. These latter are carried by a lever L, one extremity of which is pivoted to the upper end of a link Z, the lower end of which is pivoted at Z to the base-frame A. The end of the lever L has a weight Z and is provided with a series of holes 1 adapted to receive a movable pin 7,, which bears behind a fixed stop-bar Z secured to and rising from the bed-frame A. This weighted lever L holds the guide-pulleys K down in order to keep the belt J tight, and by reason of the pivoted support of the lever said lever may be moved forward and back in order to keep the belt perpendicular between the tightener or guide pulleys K and whatever member of the series of pulleys II above to which it may extend, and said lever is held in this position by the pin Z being placed in any of the series of holes Z and bearing against the fixed stopbar Z.

By relieving the belt .I by raising the lever L said belt may be shifted to any of the members of the series of pulleys H and I desired in order to increase or diminish the speed of the belt, as maybe required, and by reason of the transmission of the power through the flexible belt J it is possible to arrange one series of pulleys upon the shaking frame and permit it to shake with said frame and the other series of pulleys upon the fixed bedframe and to effect the result by simple and practical means.

The belt D has side flanges (1. These flanges are of rubber, and instead of being formed with the belt or independent thereof and secured thereto by positive fastening appliances the flanges in my invention are vulcanized directly to the belt.

In the best form of construction my invention contemplates the use of a belt of canvas or like fabric, in which case the rubber side flanges d will be vulcanized to said fabric, and still further carrying out the best form of my in vention I vulcanize the enlarged bases of the side flanges (1 directly upon independent endless side strips d, which are afterward secured to the sides of the belt by some means readily adapting them to be removed when worn or broken and others substituted, and where the belt is made of canvas or like fabric I make the side strips (1' of similar or like material and vulcanize the rubber flanges (Z to said strips and then stitch the strips to the belt, which construction is the best form to carry out the result of readily renewing the flanges when necessary by simply tearing out the stitches and sewing fresh side strips to the belt.

The distribnter by which the pulp is supplied to the surface of the belt is constructed as follows: M is a hopper to which the pulp is fed, and said hopper is directly above a central chamber N, which is formed in the middle of a box or casing O, which is secured fixedly to uprights a rising from the bedframe A. In this box or casing O and extending from the upper edge of the end walls of the central chamber N are inclined chutes P, extending laterally or transversely of the plane of the belt. The upper ends of these chutes communicate over the tops of the end walls of the. central chamber N with said chamber, and upon the floor of said chutes and extending longitudinally thereof are arranged partitions 19, having different lengths and dividing the chutes into parallel runs 1) of different lengths. The upper ends of these runs are controlled by gates 19 on the sides of the hopper M, and in the floor of the chutes at the end of each run is an opening 19 through which the material is discharged from the runs down into the box or casing. In the bottom of this box or casing are trans verse partitions dividing it into separate channels or runs 0, adapted to receive the material from the openings 19 of the runs p in the chutes P, and in the front wall of the box or casing are discharge-holes 0, one communicating with each run therein. Fitted in independent guide-cleats r under the box or casing O are separate troughs R, which lie over the belt D and have dischargeholes 0* in their bottoms. These troughs receive the material from the holes 0 in the front wall of the box or casing, which communicate one each with said troughs. 'lhe troughs being independent of each other may be readily inserted in place, and any one may be removed for the purpose of cleaning it out when necessary. To provide for supplying the central pair of these troughs, there are in the front wall of the central chamber N holes a, controlled by gates n, and which open into front passages 41 formed by a front wall a said passages being divided erti- ICC thence passes down into the central chamber N. Over the end walls of this it overflows into the separated longitudinal runs p of the chutes P, and from these runs it passes down through the openings 1) into the runs 0 of the box below, and thence out into the individual troughs R, by which it is supplied all over the surface of the belt and uniformly distributed. The pulp also passes from the central chamber N through the front holes 7?. and front passages n and holes n to supply the central troughs; Thus throughout its course the pulp is minutely divided, even in the chutes 1, into separate streams, thus insuring its equal distribution.

5 are the usual underlying belt-guiding rollers of the shaking frame. These by their adjustment to and from the transverse plane guide the belt properly and counteract its tendency to run out of true. My improvement upon these rollers consists in the provision of the loosely-playin g tapering rounded or conical end pieces 8. These pieces abut against the roller ends and are fitted thereto by means of their hollow stems s, which slip and turn freely upon the roller gudgeons. The flanges (Z of the belt hug these end pieces, which thereby hold the belt true, and said pieces being freely turnable independently of the rollers avoid that friction on the flange which would be otherwise caused by the fact of one portion of the flange traveling at a different rate of speed from the other portion, due to its perpendicular plane in its travel.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an ore-concentrator, and in combination with the bed-frame and shaking beltframe thereof, the supporting-standards having their extremities convex or half-round, bearings upon the bed-frame and shaking belt-frame having con caved recesses in which the convex extremities of the standards lit and rock, and a means for vertically adjusting one pair of said supportingstandards, to vary the inclination of the shaking belt-frame, consisting of the vertically-disposed guides on the inner sides of the base-frame, bearing movable in said guides, and having depending racks, and the rotatable shaft in the bedframe having pinions engaging with said racks.

2. In an ore-concentrator, and in combina tion with the bed-frame and shaking beltframe thereof, the supporting-standards havin g end castings with their extremities convex or half-round, bearings upon the bed-frame and shaking belt-frame having concaved recesses in which the convex extremities of the standards fitand rock, and a means for vertically adjusting one pair of said supportingstandards, to vary the inclination of the shaking beltframe, consisting of the vertically disposed guides on the inner sides of the baseframe, bearings movable in said guides, and having depending racks, the rotatable shaft in the bed-frame having pinions engaging with said racks, and a pawl and ratchet for holding the shaft where adjusted.

In an ore-concentrator, having a fixed bed-frame and a shaking belt-carrying frame provided with a head-drum for causing the travel of the belt, the means for rotating said drum, consisting of a shaft mounted upon the shaking belt-frame and having a worm engaging with a gear on the drum, a series of pulleys of different diameters on said wormshaft, a driving-shaft on the fixed bed-frame and a series of pulleys of different diameters on said shaft, a flexible driving-belt extending between said pulleys, and means for tight enin g said belt and holding it in proper position, consisting of tightener-pulleys, aweighted lever carryingsaid pulleys between its ends and pivotally connected, at one extremity, by a link with the bed-frame, and means for holding the lever in position where adjusted.

i. In an ore-concentrator, having a fixed bed-frame and a shaking belt-carrying frame provided with a head-drum for causing the travel of the belt, the means for rotating said drum consisting of a shaft-mounted upon the shaking belt-frame and having a worm engaging with a gear on the. drum, a series of pulleys of different diameters on said wormshaft, a driving-shaft on the fixed bed-frame and a series of pulleys of different diameters on said shaft, a flexible driving-belt extending between said pulleys, and means for tightening said belt and holding it in proper position, consisting of tightener-pulleys, a weigl1ted lever carryin g said pulleys between its ends and pivotally connected, at one extremity, by a link with the bed-frame, a removable pin adapted to lit in any of a series of holes in said lever, and a fixed vertically-disposed bar forming a stop against which said pin bears, whereby the lever may be moved and held where adjusted.

5. In an ore-concentrator, a concentratingbelt, independent side strips fastened removably by lines of stitching to said belt, and side flanges of rubber vulcanized to said side strips.

6. In an ore-concentrator, a concentratingbelt having independent side strips of can vas or like fabric removably secured thereto by lines of stitching, and rubber flanges vul canized to. said side strips.

7. In an oreconcentrator, a concentratingbelt made of canvas or like fabric and having IIO independent side strips of canvas or like fabric removably secured thereto and rubber side flanges vulcanized to said side strips.

8. In an ore-concentrator, a pulp-distributer therefor consisting of a centrally-located hopper, oppositely-extending inclined chutes with which said hopper communicates, longi tudinal partitions of Varying lengths dividin g said chutes into parallel longitudinal. runs of different lengths, gates for controlling the communication between the hopper and said runs, openings in the chutes at the ends of said runs, an underlying box or casing pro- Vided With parallel cross runs adapted to re ceive the material from the openings in the chutes, discharge-holes from each of said cross runs, and apertured troughs lying over the belt and communicating with said holes, said troughs being independent of each other and separately and removably secured to the box or casing.

9. In an oreeoncentrator, a pulp-distributer therefor, consisting of a centrally-located hopper, a receiving-chamber under said hopper, oppositelyextending inclined chutes communicating with said chamber over the tops of its end Walls, longitudinal runs of different lengths in said chutes, gates controlling said runs and openings at the ends of the runs, an underlying box with parallel cross runs adapted to receive the material from said chute-openings and having discharge-holes in the front Walls of the box, independent and endW-ise removable apertured troughs lying over the belt and communicating with said holes, front passages communicating with the front of the central chamber, gates controlling said passages and openings by which the passages discharge into the central pair of the series of troughs.

10. In an ore-concentratorand in combination with a concentrating-belt having side flanges with enlarged bases, the underlying guide-rollers having end gudgeons and the independently-rotatable tapering end pieces abutting against said roller ends and having hollow stems fitting freely upon said gudgeons,

said side flanges of the belt adapted to engage the rotatable end pieces, substantially as herein described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

AMOS C. SPRINGER. Vitnesses: S. H. NOURSE,

JESSIE C. BRODIE. 

